Technical Keep or loose the fenders and boards

To answer the OP's question I would leave the fenders for the simple reason that you hardly ever see fendered hot rods, it will stand out!

I never said it was the same us a modern truck! Shorten the bed and you can longer carry a spare, tools, or luggage, or put parts in it to sell at a swapmeet.

Don't you think it was used as a truck in 1932, I would bet there has been more stuff in the bed of that truck then one of these modern $80,000 Duramax highway princesses.


In fact, I am look for a 1960 Chevy truck long bed to haul my vintage stock with so I can take tools, extra parts, compressor, etc. the problem everyone is taking long beds and turning them into short beds, and they are becoming harder and harder to find!

But let's not hi-jack this thread with a long bed short bed debate.

 

You didn't say it was the same as a modern truck, you said shortening the bed would render it completely useless. There was a 2018 article by Brennan for Street Rodder in which a shop shortened a 32 bed 12 inches for the 2018 Road Tour truck. It looked great. That made the bed 53-1/2 inches long, which is still sufficient to do the things you mentioned.

My point was that maybe 1% of 1932 pickup owners use their truck bed for truck things, the rest use a modern pickup for truck things. It's not the dimensions that render it completely useless as a truck, it's the antiquated load capacity, bed mounting, and shallow bed that do that.

Keep the bed length and the fenders is my vote.

 

Nice truck! Lengthen the wheelbase. Or just leave the damn thing alone. Lol

 

I agree to keep the fenders and lower the truck some. I've lowered the back of mine about 2" since this pic was taken. I'm still running mech brakes.

 

KEEP OR LOOSE THE FENDERS AND BOARDS,

Comes across as asking for opinions, these type of questions hardly ever get a majority of the replies you want to hear, never the less the '32-'34 Ford pickups look good ether way, with or without fenders, build it to your vision. HRP

 

On a truck I would keep the fenders and not touch the bed. I like a coupe or a roadster without fenders but often wonder if you could get paint damage from road debris.

 

It’s been a good read getting all the different perspectives, HRP, as well as the pictures. The fender less look would take a lot more effort and $$$’s on my end to achieve the proper look. On the shorter bed perspective, I would rather have a 33 that came with the longer wheel base and is in perspective. I have no intention of cleaning it up, paint and body wise, that is for the next caretaker to decide. From the day I acquired it was for it to look like a beat up old survivor, no time to wash and wax as someone else pointed out. Don’t get me wrong and I appreciate them looking finished as well and the ones you posted are fantastic. I have always been drawn to the, for lack of better words, “ survivor look “ another overrated term but what else can you call it.

 

Very nice

 

You might like to see the truck I started with, it didn't have a engine or transmission when I bought it. The paint was shiny black but was shoot over a body with no prep.



And Daves 32/34 Confused pickup, the cab was a 34 everything else was '32.

He started with a cab & a old frame.



And Steve started with a running original 32 pickup he bought in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee.HRP

 

BTW, after reading your other post and seeing your truck, leave it alone, it looks great & sit's great. HRP

 

KEEP the fenders

 

OK @deucepickup32 , I have to admit that I love both the fenderless and full fendered look on these early 30's trucks. I voted for fenderless, and have been posting in support of them because somebody has to represent that side. You said you were a fan of the highboy look, so am I. I'm just so surprised by the amount of negativity to the highboy style around this place, a forum focused on traditional hot rodding, just doesn't make sense. I do not dislike full fendered rods, they look great! And they do have the advantages noted by others here of keeping rain, water and mud from flying everywhere. I deal with it by not driving in the rain or through the mud. Maybe that's easy for me because it rains so little in So Cal (except this year!). But on the occassions when I have got caught out in the rain, eh, it's kinda fun throwing 30 foot roostertails! So yeah, if it's your only ride and you need to be out in the rain and mud, fenders are a good thing. But, a good highboy still kicks ass! A good highboy still screams HOT ROD! Whereas the full fendered look speaks it softly, doesn't want to offend anybody.

Speaking of offenses, I hope I haven't offended the full fender guys, your trucks look beautiful. I hope I don't get them dirty when I pass you in the rain.

 

Thanks ! I have been contemplating bringing it down a couple more inches front and rear but that would mean time lost driving it.

 

Well said and the different perspectives have been good to digest.

 

Opinions are like,,,well you know! HRP